A tapestry takes distinct colors and threads, and weaves them together into a beautiful design. That’s exactly what this European tour—European Tapestry—does. It weaves together the distinct cities, cultures, landscapes, and food of seven countries to make a beautiful vacation to Europe. You’ll start with sightseeing and a canal cruise in Amsterdam and end with an elevator ride to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In between, you’ll see some of Europe’s must-see attractions, such as the Lion Monument in Lucerne; St. Mark’s Square in Venice; the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museums in Rome; Signoria Square in Florence, the center of the city's political life since the 14th century; and the amazing Leaning Tower in Pisa.

But that’s not all. You’ll have a beer at a local café in Heidelberg, take a romantic Rhine cruise past castle-crested cliffs and terraced vineyards, learn about woodcarving from a local woodcarver in Germany’s Black Forest, enjoy a special dinner to try out local specialties in Venice, and hear about perfume-making at a perfume factory in Èze. Plus, a highlight of this European tour is an excursion from Nice to St. Paul de Vence, a picturesque hilltop village where you can enjoy the local cafés, watch the locals play lawn bowling, explore the art galleries, or sample the local wine. In Nice, you can relax as you admire the blue Mediterranean Sea. A thrilling train ride on the high-speed TGV train brings you from Nice to Paris.

Lark Tours has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure your time and fun is maximized. That’s why we’ve included VIP access in this tour of Europe. That means that rather than waiting in long lines at places such as the Colosseum in Rome, you’ll be inside the attractions and enjoying this amazing vacation. It’s just one more way this European tour is sure to delight!

DAY 1 Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland

Welcome to Amsterdam! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel.

Dinner

DAY 2 Amsterdam

See the main sights of the 700-year-old capital with a Local Guide, like the Royal Palace, Mint Tower, the original Heineken Brewery, the Rijksmuseum, and more. Highlight is a leisurely CANAL CRUISE along the patrician mansions and gabled façades. Also visit a major DIAMOND CENTER. Later, you may wish to join an optional excursion to visit a cheese farm, a clog maker, and a working windmill, followed by dinner in the pretty fishing village of Volendam.

Breakfast

DAY 3 Amsterdam–Heidelberg, Germany–Rhineland

On the way to Germany, pass the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far. Highlight of the day is a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and half-timbered towns. Stop in Heidelberg and take pictures of the famous red-walled castle ruins. Then, [Lark Tours Local Favorite] [Globus Local Favorite] enjoy a beer at the famous Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg.BreakfastDinner

DAY 4 Rhineland–Black Forest–Rhine Falls, Switzerland–Lucerne

Stop in the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. Hear about the art of WOODCARVING from a local woodcarver, Adolf Herr. On the Swiss border, admire thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picturesque Lucerne. Tonight is your chance to enjoy an optional Swiss folklore party.

Breakfast

DAY 5 Lucerne–Vaduz, Liechtenstein–Innsbruck, Austria

Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT, walk through the Old Town, and cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Time to shop for Swiss watches or climb lofty Mount Pilatus. On your way to Austria, stop in the Principality of Liechtenstein, then drive through Austria’s most famous ski area. In Innsbruck, walk through the Old Town and take pictures of Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF.BreakfastDinner

DAY 6 Innsbruck–Venice, Italy

Cross spectacular Brenner Pass to Italy. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE and admire the byzantine basilica, lavish Doges’ Palace with its Bridge of Sighs, and watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. You may wish to join an optional gondola ride, and later, [Lark Tours Local Favorite] [Globus Local Favorite] a special dinner with wine awaits you at Rossopomodoro restaurant.BreakfastDinner

DAY 7 Venice–Rome

A scenic drive across the Apennine Hills and through vine- and olive-clad Tuscany brings you to the “Eternal City.”

Breakfast

DAY 8 Rome

Enjoy Lark Tours’ unique guided sightseeing, including inside visits to all highlights of religious and ancient Rome: the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL with Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà, the amazing COLOSSEUM, and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. For those who wish to see it all, an optional walking tour with a Local Guide is available to further explore famous sites like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and more.

Breakfast

DAY 9 Rome–Florence–Tuscany

Arrive in Florence, and follow your Local Guide for a pleasant walk to admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. End in PIAZZA SANTA CROCE and enjoy a gelato. Time to shop for gold and leather before continuing to the peaceful spa resort of Montecatini for your overnight stay.BreakfastDinner

DAY 10 Tuscany–Pisa–Èze, France–Nice

In Pisa, marvel at the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, enjoy spectacular views of Italian and French Riviera resorts. Leave the highway for the panoramic Moyenne Corniche and before arriving in Nice, stop in Èze to visit the Fragonard perfume factory, and learn about PERFUME-MAKING.

Breakfast

DAY 11 Nice. Excursion to St. Paul de Vence

[Globus Local Favorite] [Globus Local Favorite] A highlight visit this morning to the picturesque hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Explore the many art galleries, enjoy the spectacular view, or relax at a local café, where you may see the locals play pétanque (lawn bowling). Return to Nice for a lazy afternoon to dabble in the blue Mediterranean or to stroll along the elegant Promenade des Anglais. An optional outing is available tonight to Monte Carlo.

Breakfast

DAY 12 Nice–Paris

Transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed TGV TRAIN to Paris. This evening, a special dinner with wine has been included at a local restaurant where you can try out local specialties like escargots (snails), soupe à l’oignon (onion soup), boeuf bourguignon (beef Burgundy), followed by a drive through the “City of Light.”BreakfastDinner

DAY 13 Paris

Discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most famous sights: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and more. For a bird’s-eye view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. An optional excursion is available to the lavish baroque Palace and Gardens of Versailles. Tonight, dinner and a lively cabaret show at one of Paris’ nightclubs might just be the ticket!